Joint for electric cable systems



Jan. 10, 1950 c. E.. BENNETT 2,493,909

JOINT FOR ELECTRICCABLE SYSTEMS Filed May 29, 1946 41N VEN TOR.

CHARLES E. BENNETT Patented Jan. l0, 1950 JOINT FOR ELECTRIC CABLE SYSTEMS Charles E. Bennett, Ridgewood, N. J., assigner to The Okonite-Callender Cable Company, Incorporated, Paterson, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 2s, 194s, serai No. 612,961;

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an improvement in joints for electric cable systems, with particular reference to cable systems of the type wherein the paper insulated cable conductors are enclosed in a pipe line kept filled with an insulating fluid under high pressure, usually in the order of 200 pounds per square inch.

In such joints the paper insulated conductors pass through a xed sealing barrier plate or bulkhead at each end of the joint capable of holding oil at 200 pounds per square inch pressure.

It is essential in these joints to prevent movement of the cable conductors relatively to the bulkheads or gaskets, and this is particularly difficult on an inclined installation where the weight of the cable places the same under considerable tension tending` to draw the conductors through the bulkheads.

I have found that this diniculty can be overcome by inserting a spacer, such as blocks of wood between the several conductors of the system, at the joints, and then binding the Several conductors and Wooden blocks together with heavy cotton or metal tape. This spacer extends from bulkhead to bulkhead and takes the thrust against the bulkheads effectively to prevent any longitudinal movement of the cable conductors.

In the accompanying drawings wherein I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevational view of my improved joint; and

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. l, somewhat enlarged: A

Referring to the drawings in detail, 2 designates the joint casing, 4 a bulkhead at each end of the `joint casing, and 6, the pipe line to which the joint casing is secured. This construction is conventional.

The cable conductors designated 8 are insulated with impregnated paper tape l0, and pass through the xed bulkheads 4 in opposite direction and are spliced together within the joint casing.

It has been found that there is a tendency for the cable conductors to move relatively to the bulkheads longitudinally of the joint, and this is particularly true where the system is inclined, the weight of the cable conductors placing them under considerable tension or compression. The

bulkheads 4 can be tightened around the cable conductors suiiiciently to hold an oil pressure of around 200 pounds per square inch, but this is insuicient to prevent movement of the conductors through the bulkheads, and it is not feasible to draw the bulkheads tighter.

Accordingly in making up the joint I space the conductors from each other by a spacer composed of a. series of wooden blocks inserted between the several phases of the cable. these blocks being designated I2.. As will be seen, these blocks are inserted transversely of the cable conductors, and the face of each block is provided with concaved surfaces I4 to receive the convex surfaces of the cable insulation. This series of blocks extends the length of the joint so that the end blocks abut the bulkheads 4. I then wrap heavy cotton or metal tape II tightly about this assembly, securely to bind the cable conductors to the blocks. Because of the fact that the blocks I2 abut the joint bulkheads and because the several phases of the cable are immovably bound to the blocks, the blocks will take the thrust against the bulkheads and eiectually prevent longitudinal movement of the cable through the bulkheads. In tests of my improved joint I have placed a tension of 5000 -pounds upon the cable conductors without moving the same.

From all of the foregoing it will be appreciated that I have provided a joint which is very simple and inexpensive in its construction, effective in operation, and of such a nature vthat damage to the cable in making up the joint and in cable operation is avoided.

What I claim is:

1. A joint for electric cables. said joint comprising in combination a joint casing, a bulkhead adjacent each end of the casing, a plurality of insulated conductors extending into said casing through said bulkheads, the conductors extending through one bulkhead being spliced to those ex tending through the other bulkhead, within the joint casing, and means for preventing longitudinal movement of the insulated conductors relatively to the bulkheads, said means comprising a wooden spacer extending lengthwise from bulkhead to bulkhead, the said conductors lying along the surface of said spacer, and a wrapping about the conductors for immovably binding the conductors to the spacer.

2. A joint for electric cables, said joint comprising in combination a Vjoint casing, a iixed bulkhead. adjacent each end of said casing, in-

sulated cable conductors extending through the said bulkheads into said casing, the conductors extending through one bulkhead being spliced to the other conductors withinsaid casing, and means for preventing lengthwise movement of the insulated conductors relatively to the bulkheads, said means comprising a spacer for spacing the conductors and comprising blocks of non-metall 3 lie material lying transversely of timev joint and extending from bulkhead to bulkhead. and a binding tape wrapped about the conductor assembly to bind the conductors and spacer immovably to each other.

3. A Joint tor electric cables, said Joint comprising in combination a casing. a bulkhead adjacent each end thereof, insulated cable conductors extending through said bulkheads and casing. and means comprising a wooden spacer immovably bound to said conductors and extending from bulkhead to bulkhead to prevent longitudinal movement of the conductors relatively to the bulkheads.

4. A Joint for electric cables, said joint comprising in combination a joint casing, a xed bulkhead adjacent each end of the casing, insulated conductors extending through the casing and bulkheads, a spacer composed of wooden blocks for spacing or spreading the conductors, the blocks extending transversely ot the cable conductors and the series extending from bulk- 4 head to bulkhead. the surface of the blocks being concaved to receive the conductors. and a tape wrapped about the assembly for immovably binding the conductors to the blocks whereby longitudinal movement of the conductors relatively to the bulkheads is prevented.

CHARLES E. BENNETT.

REFERENCES CITED 10 The following references are o! record in the nie of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 15 1,113,138 Penote Oct. 6, 1914 1,443,613 Beaver et al Jen. 30, 1923 1,947,481 Meyer Feb. 20, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS 20 Number Country y Date 278,674 Great Britain J une 7, 1928 

